BARRY Blankley has resigned as manager of Wessex outfit AFC Totton after just nine months in the post.

But the Testwood Park club have wasted no time in their search for a replacement and are due to interview former Andover boss Howard Goddard this afternoon.

Addressing rumours that he quit Testwood Park because the club owe him money, former Bashley boss Blankley said: "It's true I'm owed money, but that's not my sole reason for leaving.

"Money doesn't motivate me, but success does and it's the lack of professionalism I found frustrating.

"Maybe it's my fault for setting my standards too high, but the club is not moving in the direction I thought it would.

"I tried to be professional but there are people there who don't want to change and there's a lack of communication behind the scenes.

"I had several meetings with the club but the things I asked for haven't been done."

Although the majority of Totton's existing squad have signed forms for next season, experienced trio Mark Watson, Jimmy Anderson and Martin Whiddett have not yet put pen to paper.

Blankley reflected: "I had three players from higher leagues ready to sign and now I've got to go back to them and say 'sorry, I'm not there any more.' And a lot of the players already there only re-signed because I said I'd still be there."

"What disappointments me personally is that this will be the first pre-season since I left school at 16 to join Saints that I haven't been involved in football either as a player, coach or manager."

Blankley's resignation continues an unsettled spell for the Sydenhams Wessex League club since the departure of their long-time manager Ian Robinson, who walked out in February last year after seven seasons in charge.

Less than 48 hours later John Robson was unveiled as the Stags' new boss, but his reign lasted only seven months before he succeeded Blankley as team boss of Bashley.

Totton chairman John Dawson was surprised by Blankley's departure, saying: "This has come right out of the blue. There was no indication at all that he wasn't looking forward to next season. If that had been the case, I think he would have told me in May and not a week before training's due to start.

"Most of the players have re-signed and Barry was scouting round for reinforcements. We've got ourselves a training venue ready to begin next week.

"The lateness of the decision is disappointing. It comes as we're doing our final preparations for next season and it sends out the wrong messages to players.

"I've asked Barry to write me a letter explaining his reasons, so at the moment I don't know what they are. I know his business has been prospering and keeping him busy and he's got a young family.

"We're disappointed to see him go, but we wish him well."

After being sacked by Andover last season, former AFC Bournemouth and Newport County striker Goddard commuted to Newport to manage Welsh side Llanwern.

l Former Newport IoW manager Steve Tate has joined Christchurch as player-coach.

The 35-year-old, who crowned last season with an FA Vase winner's medal for Winchester City, lost out to Geoff Butler in the race to succeed John Robson as manager of Bashley.